The Gamechanger

Discuss deer hunting tactics, Deer behavior. Post your Hunting Stories, Pictures, and Questions/Answers.
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funderburk
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The Gamechanger

Unread postby funderburk » Wed Aug 07, 2019 11:00 pm

What has been your most recent gamechanger for tagging big mature bucks?


“I’ve always believed that the mind is the best weapon.” John Rambo
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may21581
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby may21581 » Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:27 am

1. Believing in yourself
2. Scout scout scout in the spring
3. Be open minded and dont be afraid to try new things
4. Have fun
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backstraps
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby backstraps » Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:37 am

Tagging big mature bucks would be a stretch for me. But tagging more and better quality bucks for me:
1. Dedication! More time, more effort and smarter scouting
2. Learning from my mistakes
3. Persistence! I refuse to give up
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Dewey
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby Dewey » Thu Aug 08, 2019 10:46 am

Honestly I don’t believe there is a single game-changer. What works one season won’t necessarily work the next. Just when you think you have it figured out the game changes again. It’s a combination of many things to put the odds in your favor. The posts above sum it up very well.
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby Boogieman1 » Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:23 am

Biggest game changer I've ever witnessed is not taking any info u hear as fact and relying on what u witness first hand. If u believe everything that's being sold your in for a long bumpy ride. Cams can answer much suspicion and also prove opinions as BS.
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby tundra@1 » Thu Aug 08, 2019 12:21 pm

Simply the Time to hunt
Tennhunter3
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby Tennhunter3 » Thu Aug 08, 2019 1:58 pm

Learning the stratagies of how big bucks use primary scrapes year round. I've spent a year studying how bucks use and enter bedding scrapes.

Determination to believe in myself and push through negativity.

Understanding the spiderweb and how wind and thermals impact which part of it is used.

Slow down.
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby AfootTrack56 » Thu Aug 08, 2019 3:12 pm

Definitely leaving “hunting buddies”. I always liked hunting with other people, but I realized that it was too much of a hindrance on my goals. I’ve always done things differently than others I’ve hunted with, and never minded going the extra mile. But when the guys you hunt with don’t share the same drive, it rarely tips the scale for the better. Seems like the hard work meter is easier to drop than it is to raise up. I still hunt with people, just not like I used too.
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funderburk
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby funderburk » Thu Aug 08, 2019 9:18 pm

Tennhunter3 wrote:Learning the stratagies of how big bucks use primary scrapes year round. I've spent a year studying how bucks use and enter bedding scrapes.

Determination to believe in myself and push through negativity.

Understanding the spiderweb and how wind and thermals impact which part of it is used.

Slow down.


I’d love to hear what you’ve learned about scrapes!
“I’ve always believed that the mind is the best weapon.” John Rambo
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby Ranger Matthews » Thu Aug 08, 2019 11:54 pm

For me it was when I started consistently sitting all day. Probably half my big deer were shot at midday. That being said I think no matter what your approach you need to mix it up and step outside your comfort zone last year I shot a good one Beast style in a swamp during the so called October lull on an evening hunt. So maybe the game changer is to constantly evolve and push yourself to get better every season
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby mheichelbech » Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:35 am

I keep thinking about getting a crossbow. I’ve had 3 different slobs in the past 2 years that I could have easily shot with a crossbow but wasn’t right for a regular bow under the circumstances at the time.

Sometimes I just get tired of putting in all the time and effort to “just miss an opportunity.
"One of the chief attractions of the life of the wilderness is its rugged and stalwart democracy; there every man stands for what he actually is and can show himself to be." — Theodore Roosevelt, 1893
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby DaveT1963 » Fri Aug 09, 2019 12:41 am

The biggest for me was learning to go where they live and are more abundant. While I still love to dupe an occasional close to home, my odds go up substantially when I travel to better locations.
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elk yinzer
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby elk yinzer » Fri Aug 09, 2019 1:12 am

As much as I've come to hate the word gamechanger....

Moving and having to learn new terrain. Going along with Dan's "changing it up" post, I was stagnated hunting where I grew up. I killed lots of deer there but it was a classic case of being strung along by 2-3 year olds. I was probably never going to kill an older buck doing what I was doing. Having to learn new ground and thinking critically about it put me on a totally different level almost right off the bat. I went from an area with really high deer density to low/moderate. I think that has helped advance my woods skills a lot too.
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby westmichigander » Fri Aug 09, 2019 1:17 am

Ranger Matthews wrote:For me it was when I started consistently sitting all day. Probably half my big deer were shot at midday.



Were these midday kills during the "rut" or around then?
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Re: The Gamechanger

Unread postby <DK> » Fri Aug 09, 2019 2:08 am

Simply by avoiding the mistakes that made me weak competition. Against both hunters and the deer.


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